Quartz
Tiger’s Eye
Golden to honey-brown with silky chatoyancy
Brown
Gold
Yellow
Optical characteristics
- Ref. index
- 1.544 – 1.553
- Birefringence
- 0.009
- Luster
- Silky
- Pleochroism
- None None; chatoyancy is caused by parallel fibrous structure, not dichroism.
- Fluorescence
- Inert.
Source localities
South Africa
South Africa: Cullinan / Venetia
Significant
Historic and important diamond source; Griqualand West region is world's primary tiger's eye source.
Australia
Australia: New South Wales / Queensland fields
Commercial
Commercial sapphire and opal source; many darker blue to blue-green sapphires.
India
India: Rajasthan / Odisha / Karnataka
Commercial
Historic and modern source for garnet, moonstone, corundum and other gems.
Namibia
Namibia: Erongo / Green Dragon area
Commercial
Known for demantoid, spessartite and collector minerals.
Enhancement & treatment
Inclusions & features
Instruments used
10x Loupe
Your most-used instrument, start every examination here
Polariscope
Determines single vs. double refraction, quick and conclusive
High CRI Penlight
Tiny concentrated white spot for field checks, inclusions, fire, and fractures
Hydrostatic Scale
Measures specific gravity, works even on opaque stones